If money talks, these are the people whose money doesn’t just talk …. it shouts from skyscrapers, stock charts and headlines.
Every year, we all get a little curious and type into Google:
“Who is the richest person in India?”
“Who are the top billionaires in India?”
But it’s not just gossip or glam.
These billionaires quietly reveal where India’s real power, money and future opportunities are hiding.
Think about it:
Somewhere behind all of this, one of these top 15 richest people in India is pulling the strings, signing the cheques, or building the empire.
And at the very top of this year’s list, no surprise at all:
Source: All net worth figures in this blog are approximate, in USD billions, based on estimates from Forbes and other financial publications up to November 2025. These numbers keep changing with stock prices, business deals and market mood.
Before we dive into their stories, here’s the full list at a glance:
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (USD billions) | Main Company / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mukesh Ambani | 105 | Reliance Industries |
| 2 | Gautam Adani | 92 | Adani Group |
| 3 | Savitri Jindal | 40.2 | Jindal Group (Steel, Power) |
| 4 | Sunil Bharti Mittal | 34.2 | Bharti Enterprises (Telecom) |
| 5 | Shiv Nadar | 33.2 | HCL Technologies |
| 6 | Radhakishan Damani | 28.2 | DMart / Avenue Supermarts |
| 7 | Dilip Shanghvi | 26.3 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries |
| 8 | Cyrus Poonawalla | ~23 | Serum Institute of India (Vaccines) |
| 9 | Kumar Mangalam Birla | ~21 | Aditya Birla Group |
| 10 | Lakshmi Mittal | ~19.2 | ArcelorMittal (Steel) |
| 11 | Kushal Pal Singh | ~14.5 | DLF (Real Estate) |
| 12 | Ravi Jaipuria | ~16.2 | RJ Corp (Fast Food & Beverages) |
| 13 | Uday Kotak | ~13.3 | Kotak Mahindra Bank |
| 14 | Azim Premji | ~12 | Wipro Group |
| 15 | Mangal Prabhat Lodha | ~10.4 | Lodha Group (Real Estate) |
Source:
Net Worth (Present): $116 billion
Main Company: Reliance Industries Limited
Sector: Energy, Telecom, Retail, Digital, New Energy
Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited, one of India’s largest and most valuable conglomerates. He is the richest person in India and is known for his big-vision thinking, aggressive expansion, and ability to disrupt entire industries like telecom and retail.
• Started by expanding Reliance’s traditional business in oil and petrochemicals, founded by his father Dhirubhai Ambani
• Launched Reliance Jio and changed the Indian telecom market with ultra-cheap data and widespread 4G internet
• Built Reliance Retail into a major force through supermarkets, fashion stores, electronics, and online platforms like JioMart and AJIO
• Entered digital services and new energy, investing heavily in green energy, technology, and future-focused businesses
Mukesh Ambani is also involved in philanthropy through Reliance Foundation, which works in areas like education, health, rural development, sports, and disaster relief.
He turned Reliance from a traditional petrochemical company into a modern powerhouse in telecom, retail, energy, and digital services, and plays a key role in shaping where India’s economy is heading next.
Net Worth (Present): $84 billion
Main Company: Adani Group
Sector: Ports, Airports, Power, Infrastructure, Renewables
Gautam Adani is the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, one of India’s biggest infrastructure and energy conglomerates. He is known for his bold risk-taking, rapid expansion, and strong presence in core sectors that power India’s growth.
• Started as a commodity trader and gradually built the Adani Group in the early years
• Developed Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone into India’s largest private port operator
• Expanded into airports, power generation, transmission, city gas distribution, logistics, cement, and renewable energy through companies like Adani Green Energy, Adani Power, Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Total Gas, Ambuja Cements and ACC
• Positioned the group at the center of India’s infrastructure, logistics, and energy push
Gautam Adani supports education, healthcare, and community development through the Adani Foundation, working in areas like rural development, skill training, and social welfare.
He helped build India’s strength in infrastructure, ports, power, and renewables and is closely linked to the country’s long-term growth in logistics and energy.
Net Worth (Present): $36.9 billion
Main Company: HCL Technologies (HCL Group)
Sector: Information Technology and IT Services
Shiv Nadar is the founder of HCL, one of India’s earliest and most successful IT companies. He is known for his low-profile personality, deep focus on innovation, and for building strong institutions in both technology and education.
• Started HCL in the 1970s when IT and computers were still very new in India
• Grew HCL Technologies into a global IT services and consulting company serving clients across banking, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, and technology
• Expanded the HCL Group into IT services, engineering services, and R&D, helping position India as a major global IT hub
Shiv Nadar has stepped back from day-to-day corporate roles and now focuses heavily on education and philanthropy through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, Shiv Nadar University, schools, and scholarship programs.
He helped build India’s strength in IT and then redirected a large part of his wealth and time into education and institution building.
Net Worth (Present): $33.5 billion
Main Company: Jindal Group (O.P. Jindal Group)
Sector: Steel and Power
Savitri Jindal is the chairperson of the Jindal Group, a major player in India’s steel and power sectors. She is the richest woman in India and is known for carrying forward the legacy of her late husband O.P. Jindal while expanding the business further.
• Took over the leadership of the Jindal Group after O.P. Jindal’s death
• Helped grow the group’s presence in steel manufacturing, supplying to infrastructure, construction, and core industries
• Supported expansion in power projects that help power cities, industries, and rural regions across India
Savitri Jindal and the Jindal family are involved in education, healthcare and community welfare through various trusts and institutions.
She helped strengthen India’s steel and power backbone while emerging as the country’s richest woman and a key figure in its industrial growth story.
Net Worth (Present): $26.7 billion
Main Company: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
Sector: Pharmaceuticals
Dilip Shanghvi is the founder of Sun Pharma, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He is known for his calm, low-key style and sharp business sense in building a global generics powerhouse.
• Started Sun Pharma in the 1980s with a focus on psychiatry and niche segments
• Grew the company into one of the world’s largest generic drug makers through organic growth and acquisitions
• Built a strong presence in the United States and other global markets, especially in generics and speciality pharma
Dilip Shanghvi is involved in philanthropy related to healthcare, education, and social initiatives through charitable activities and trusts linked to Sun Pharma and his family.
He helped make India a global force in affordable medicines and built massive wealth from generic drugs that reach hospitals and pharmacies worldwide.
Net Worth (Present): $21.3 billion
Main Company: Serum Institute of India
Sector: Vaccines and Biotechnology
Cyrus Poonawalla is the founder of Serum Institute of India, one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world. He is known for building a business that directly impacts public health in India and across the globe.
• Started Serum Institute of India in the 1960s with a focus on producing affordable vaccines
• Grew it into a global leader in vaccine production, supplying vaccines to governments, WHO, and international health agencies
• Helped provide vaccines for millions of children worldwide and played a crucial role during major vaccination drives, including the Covid era
Cyrus Poonawalla and his family are involved in charitable work related to healthcare, education, and social development through various foundations.
He helped build India’s reputation as a vaccine powerhouse and turned life-saving vaccines into a large, impactful global business.
Net Worth (Present): $20.9 billion
Main Company: DLF Limited
Sector: Real Estate and Infrastructure
Kushal Pal Singh, often known as K.P. Singh, is the key figure behind DLF Limited, one of India’s biggest real estate developers. He is known for shaping the modern skyline of cities like Gurugram with large-scale real estate projects.
• Took charge of DLF and focused on developing large residential and commercial projects
• Built townships, corporate parks, and premium residential complexes, especially in Delhi-NCR and Gurugram
• Turned DLF into a major real estate brand associated with modern urban living and office spaces
The DLF group and the Singh family support education, healthcare, and community development through DLF Foundation and related initiatives.
He helped build India’s strength in urban real estate and transformed empty land into high-value cities, townships, and business districts.
Net Worth (Present): $19.7 billion
Main Company: Aditya Birla Group
Sector: Metals, Cement, Financial Services, Retail, Telecom
Kumar Mangalam Birla is the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s oldest and largest business conglomerates. He is known for blending a traditional business legacy with modern, global expansion.
• Took over the Aditya Birla Group in his 20s after his father’s death
• Expanded the group into a leader in cement through UltraTech Cement, and in metals and aluminium through Hindalco
• Strengthened presence in financial services, fashion retail and other sectors across India and abroad
Kumar Mangalam Birla is active in philanthropy and supports education, social welfare, and rural development through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and other foundations.
He helped grow a legacy business group into a modern, multi-country, multi-sector conglomerate that is central to India’s industrial and consumer economy.
Net Worth (Present): $17.6 billion
Main Company: Avenue Supermarts (DMart)
Sector: Retail
Radhakishan Damani is the founder of DMart and a highly respected stock market investor. He is known for his simple lifestyle, deep understanding of consumer behaviour, and disciplined approach to business and investing.
• Started out as a successful stock market trader and long-term investor
• Founded DMart, a retail chain focused on value-for-money groceries and household products
• Grew Avenue Supermarts into one of India’s most profitable and trusted retail chains with a strong presence across multiple states
Radhakishan Damani keeps a very low public profile, but he and his family support various charitable causes in health and education.
He built India’s retail strength from the ground up by understanding the middle-class customer and turning a simple, low-cost model into a billion-dollar business.
Net Worth (Present): $16.4 billion
Main Company: ArcelorMittal
Sector: Steel and Metals
Lakshmi Mittal is the executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s largest steel-producing companies. Born in India and based globally, he is known for his sharp deal-making and for building a worldwide steel empire.
• Started in the family’s steel business and later set up his own operations abroad
• Expanded through acquisitions to form ArcelorMittal, a global leader in steel with plants across multiple continents
• Benefited from large-scale demand in steel for construction, infrastructure, and industry
Lakshmi Mittal supports education, sports, and community development through various philanthropic efforts, including the Mittal Foundation.
He helped place India-origin entrepreneurship on the global industrial map and built one of the world’s largest steel companies.
Net Worth (Present): $16.2 billion
Main Company: RJ Corp
Sector: Food and Beverages, QSR, Dairy, Beverages
Ravi Jaipuria is the chairman of RJ Corp and is often called the soft drink and fast-food king of India. He is known for running some of the largest bottling and quick service restaurant operations in the country.
• Built RJ Corp as a major bottling partner for global beverage brands in India and abroad
• Acquired and managed franchise rights for several international fast-food chains
• Expanded interests into dairy, hospitality, and education, creating a diversified consumer-focused business group
Ravi Jaipuria and his group support social initiatives in health, education, and community welfare through corporate social responsibility programs.
He helped build India’s strength in beverages and quick-service restaurants, benefiting from the growing young population and rising eating-out culture.
Net Worth (Present): $13.3 billion
Main Company: Kotak Mahindra Bank
Sector: Banking and Financial Services
Uday Kotak is the founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks. He is known for his conservative yet smart approach to finance, risk management, and long-term wealth creation.
• Started with a small finance business focused on bill discounting and lending
• Gradually expanded into a full-fledged non-banking finance company and later into Kotak Mahindra Bank
• Built a wide financial services franchise across retail banking, corporate banking, insurance, asset management and wealth management
Uday Kotak is involved in policy discussions, industry bodies, and philanthropy related to education and financial literacy.
He helped build India’s strength in stable, trustworthy private banking and proved how disciplined finance can compound into serious long-term wealth.
Net Worth (Present): $12.0 billion
Main Company: Wipro Limited
Sector: Information Technology and IT Services
Azim Premji is the former chairman of Wipro and one of the pioneers of India’s IT services industry. He is known globally not only as a successful businessman, but as one of the most generous philanthropists in the world.
• Transformed Wipro from a vegetable oil and consumer products business into a global IT services company
• Built Wipro into a respected player in software services, consulting, and outsourcing
• Expanded Wipro’s presence across major global markets over several decades
Azim Premji has donated a large portion of his wealth to education and social causes through the Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji University, working extensively in school education and social change.
He helped build India’s IT strength and then set a benchmark in philanthropy by giving away a major part of his fortune for social impact.
Net Worth (Present): $10.4 billion
Main Company: Lodha Group (Macrotech Developers)
Sector: Real Estate
Mangal Prabhat Lodha is the founder of Lodha Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers. He is known for creating premium residential towers and large-scale projects in major cities, especially Mumbai.
• Started developing real estate projects in Mumbai and gradually built a strong brand in luxury and mid-income housing
• Developed high-rise luxury apartments, integrated townships, and commercial spaces under the Lodha brand
• Benefited from rising property prices and demand for quality housing in urban India
Lodha and his family are involved in political, social, and community activities and support various social initiatives in urban development and public welfare.
He helped shape India’s urban real estate landscape, especially in Mumbai, by turning land into high-value residential and commercial properties.
Net Worth (Present): $9.5 billion
Main Company: Zydus Lifesciences
Sector: Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
Pankaj Patel is the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences, a major Indian pharmaceutical company. He is known for his focus on research, innovation, and building a strong presence in generics and healthcare products.
• Helped grow Zydus from a domestic pharma player into a major name in Indian and global generics
• Expanded into generics, vaccines, biologics, and specialty therapies across multiple markets
• Invested in R&D and healthcare solutions that support both domestic and international demand
Pankaj Patel and Zydus support initiatives in healthcare, education, and community welfare through CSR activities and foundations.
He helped build India’s strength in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, quietly creating large value in a sector that is always in demand.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is the richest person in India.
Mukesh Ambani’s estimated net worth in Present time is around $116 billion.
Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, is the second richest Indian with an estimated net worth of $84 billion.
Savitri Jindal, chairperson of the Jindal Group, is the richest woman in India.
Different lists report different numbers, but India has well over 100 billionaires according to major rich lists.
Key sectors include IT services, pharmaceuticals, steel, real estate, banking, retail, infrastructure, and energy.
No. Some come from legacy business families, while others like Dilip Shanghvi, Radhakishan Damani, and Cyrus Poonawalla are first-generation entrepreneurs.
Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies, is among the richest tech billionaires in India.
Yes. Names like Azim Premji, Shiv Nadar, Mukesh Ambani and others are known for large contributions to education, health, and social causes.
Yes. Net worths change with stock prices, business performance, new investments, and global market movements, so rankings can shift from year to year.
A contributor to the Finanjo blog, where I share insightful and easy-to-understand content focused on educating readers about finance. With a clear and approachable writing style, I simplify complex topics to make them more understandable.
If money talks, these are the people whose money doesn’t just talk …. it shouts from skyscrapers, stock charts and headlines.
Every year, we all get a little curious and type into Google:
“Who is the richest person in India?”
“Who are the top billionaires in India?”
But it’s not just gossip or glam.
These billionaires quietly reveal where India’s real power, money and future opportunities are hiding.
Think about it:
Somewhere behind all of this, one of these top 15 richest people in India is pulling the strings, signing the cheques, or building the empire.
And at the very top of this year’s list, no surprise at all:
Source: All net worth figures in this blog are approximate, in USD billions, based on estimates from Forbes and other financial publications up to November 2025. These numbers keep changing with stock prices, business deals and market mood.
Before we dive into their stories, here’s the full list at a glance:
| Rank | Name | Net Worth (USD billions) | Main Company / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mukesh Ambani | 105 | Reliance Industries |
| 2 | Gautam Adani | 92 | Adani Group |
| 3 | Savitri Jindal | 40.2 | Jindal Group (Steel, Power) |
| 4 | Sunil Bharti Mittal | 34.2 | Bharti Enterprises (Telecom) |
| 5 | Shiv Nadar | 33.2 | HCL Technologies |
| 6 | Radhakishan Damani | 28.2 | DMart / Avenue Supermarts |
| 7 | Dilip Shanghvi | 26.3 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries |
| 8 | Cyrus Poonawalla | ~23 | Serum Institute of India (Vaccines) |
| 9 | Kumar Mangalam Birla | ~21 | Aditya Birla Group |
| 10 | Lakshmi Mittal | ~19.2 | ArcelorMittal (Steel) |
| 11 | Kushal Pal Singh | ~14.5 | DLF (Real Estate) |
| 12 | Ravi Jaipuria | ~16.2 | RJ Corp (Fast Food & Beverages) |
| 13 | Uday Kotak | ~13.3 | Kotak Mahindra Bank |
| 14 | Azim Premji | ~12 | Wipro Group |
| 15 | Mangal Prabhat Lodha | ~10.4 | Lodha Group (Real Estate) |
Source:
Net Worth (Present): $116 billion
Main Company: Reliance Industries Limited
Sector: Energy, Telecom, Retail, Digital, New Energy
Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited, one of India’s largest and most valuable conglomerates. He is the richest person in India and is known for his big-vision thinking, aggressive expansion, and ability to disrupt entire industries like telecom and retail.
• Started by expanding Reliance’s traditional business in oil and petrochemicals, founded by his father Dhirubhai Ambani
• Launched Reliance Jio and changed the Indian telecom market with ultra-cheap data and widespread 4G internet
• Built Reliance Retail into a major force through supermarkets, fashion stores, electronics, and online platforms like JioMart and AJIO
• Entered digital services and new energy, investing heavily in green energy, technology, and future-focused businesses
Mukesh Ambani is also involved in philanthropy through Reliance Foundation, which works in areas like education, health, rural development, sports, and disaster relief.
He turned Reliance from a traditional petrochemical company into a modern powerhouse in telecom, retail, energy, and digital services, and plays a key role in shaping where India’s economy is heading next.
Net Worth (Present): $84 billion
Main Company: Adani Group
Sector: Ports, Airports, Power, Infrastructure, Renewables
Gautam Adani is the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, one of India’s biggest infrastructure and energy conglomerates. He is known for his bold risk-taking, rapid expansion, and strong presence in core sectors that power India’s growth.
• Started as a commodity trader and gradually built the Adani Group in the early years
• Developed Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone into India’s largest private port operator
• Expanded into airports, power generation, transmission, city gas distribution, logistics, cement, and renewable energy through companies like Adani Green Energy, Adani Power, Adani Energy Solutions, Adani Total Gas, Ambuja Cements and ACC
• Positioned the group at the center of India’s infrastructure, logistics, and energy push
Gautam Adani supports education, healthcare, and community development through the Adani Foundation, working in areas like rural development, skill training, and social welfare.
He helped build India’s strength in infrastructure, ports, power, and renewables and is closely linked to the country’s long-term growth in logistics and energy.
Net Worth (Present): $36.9 billion
Main Company: HCL Technologies (HCL Group)
Sector: Information Technology and IT Services
Shiv Nadar is the founder of HCL, one of India’s earliest and most successful IT companies. He is known for his low-profile personality, deep focus on innovation, and for building strong institutions in both technology and education.
• Started HCL in the 1970s when IT and computers were still very new in India
• Grew HCL Technologies into a global IT services and consulting company serving clients across banking, healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, and technology
• Expanded the HCL Group into IT services, engineering services, and R&D, helping position India as a major global IT hub
Shiv Nadar has stepped back from day-to-day corporate roles and now focuses heavily on education and philanthropy through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, Shiv Nadar University, schools, and scholarship programs.
He helped build India’s strength in IT and then redirected a large part of his wealth and time into education and institution building.
Net Worth (Present): $33.5 billion
Main Company: Jindal Group (O.P. Jindal Group)
Sector: Steel and Power
Savitri Jindal is the chairperson of the Jindal Group, a major player in India’s steel and power sectors. She is the richest woman in India and is known for carrying forward the legacy of her late husband O.P. Jindal while expanding the business further.
• Took over the leadership of the Jindal Group after O.P. Jindal’s death
• Helped grow the group’s presence in steel manufacturing, supplying to infrastructure, construction, and core industries
• Supported expansion in power projects that help power cities, industries, and rural regions across India
Savitri Jindal and the Jindal family are involved in education, healthcare and community welfare through various trusts and institutions.
She helped strengthen India’s steel and power backbone while emerging as the country’s richest woman and a key figure in its industrial growth story.
Net Worth (Present): $26.7 billion
Main Company: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
Sector: Pharmaceuticals
Dilip Shanghvi is the founder of Sun Pharma, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He is known for his calm, low-key style and sharp business sense in building a global generics powerhouse.
• Started Sun Pharma in the 1980s with a focus on psychiatry and niche segments
• Grew the company into one of the world’s largest generic drug makers through organic growth and acquisitions
• Built a strong presence in the United States and other global markets, especially in generics and speciality pharma
Dilip Shanghvi is involved in philanthropy related to healthcare, education, and social initiatives through charitable activities and trusts linked to Sun Pharma and his family.
He helped make India a global force in affordable medicines and built massive wealth from generic drugs that reach hospitals and pharmacies worldwide.
Net Worth (Present): $21.3 billion
Main Company: Serum Institute of India
Sector: Vaccines and Biotechnology
Cyrus Poonawalla is the founder of Serum Institute of India, one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world. He is known for building a business that directly impacts public health in India and across the globe.
• Started Serum Institute of India in the 1960s with a focus on producing affordable vaccines
• Grew it into a global leader in vaccine production, supplying vaccines to governments, WHO, and international health agencies
• Helped provide vaccines for millions of children worldwide and played a crucial role during major vaccination drives, including the Covid era
Cyrus Poonawalla and his family are involved in charitable work related to healthcare, education, and social development through various foundations.
He helped build India’s reputation as a vaccine powerhouse and turned life-saving vaccines into a large, impactful global business.
Net Worth (Present): $20.9 billion
Main Company: DLF Limited
Sector: Real Estate and Infrastructure
Kushal Pal Singh, often known as K.P. Singh, is the key figure behind DLF Limited, one of India’s biggest real estate developers. He is known for shaping the modern skyline of cities like Gurugram with large-scale real estate projects.
• Took charge of DLF and focused on developing large residential and commercial projects
• Built townships, corporate parks, and premium residential complexes, especially in Delhi-NCR and Gurugram
• Turned DLF into a major real estate brand associated with modern urban living and office spaces
The DLF group and the Singh family support education, healthcare, and community development through DLF Foundation and related initiatives.
He helped build India’s strength in urban real estate and transformed empty land into high-value cities, townships, and business districts.
Net Worth (Present): $19.7 billion
Main Company: Aditya Birla Group
Sector: Metals, Cement, Financial Services, Retail, Telecom
Kumar Mangalam Birla is the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s oldest and largest business conglomerates. He is known for blending a traditional business legacy with modern, global expansion.
• Took over the Aditya Birla Group in his 20s after his father’s death
• Expanded the group into a leader in cement through UltraTech Cement, and in metals and aluminium through Hindalco
• Strengthened presence in financial services, fashion retail and other sectors across India and abroad
Kumar Mangalam Birla is active in philanthropy and supports education, social welfare, and rural development through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and other foundations.
He helped grow a legacy business group into a modern, multi-country, multi-sector conglomerate that is central to India’s industrial and consumer economy.
Net Worth (Present): $17.6 billion
Main Company: Avenue Supermarts (DMart)
Sector: Retail
Radhakishan Damani is the founder of DMart and a highly respected stock market investor. He is known for his simple lifestyle, deep understanding of consumer behaviour, and disciplined approach to business and investing.
• Started out as a successful stock market trader and long-term investor
• Founded DMart, a retail chain focused on value-for-money groceries and household products
• Grew Avenue Supermarts into one of India’s most profitable and trusted retail chains with a strong presence across multiple states
Radhakishan Damani keeps a very low public profile, but he and his family support various charitable causes in health and education.
He built India’s retail strength from the ground up by understanding the middle-class customer and turning a simple, low-cost model into a billion-dollar business.
Net Worth (Present): $16.4 billion
Main Company: ArcelorMittal
Sector: Steel and Metals
Lakshmi Mittal is the executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, one of the world’s largest steel-producing companies. Born in India and based globally, he is known for his sharp deal-making and for building a worldwide steel empire.
• Started in the family’s steel business and later set up his own operations abroad
• Expanded through acquisitions to form ArcelorMittal, a global leader in steel with plants across multiple continents
• Benefited from large-scale demand in steel for construction, infrastructure, and industry
Lakshmi Mittal supports education, sports, and community development through various philanthropic efforts, including the Mittal Foundation.
He helped place India-origin entrepreneurship on the global industrial map and built one of the world’s largest steel companies.
Net Worth (Present): $16.2 billion
Main Company: RJ Corp
Sector: Food and Beverages, QSR, Dairy, Beverages
Ravi Jaipuria is the chairman of RJ Corp and is often called the soft drink and fast-food king of India. He is known for running some of the largest bottling and quick service restaurant operations in the country.
• Built RJ Corp as a major bottling partner for global beverage brands in India and abroad
• Acquired and managed franchise rights for several international fast-food chains
• Expanded interests into dairy, hospitality, and education, creating a diversified consumer-focused business group
Ravi Jaipuria and his group support social initiatives in health, education, and community welfare through corporate social responsibility programs.
He helped build India’s strength in beverages and quick-service restaurants, benefiting from the growing young population and rising eating-out culture.
Net Worth (Present): $13.3 billion
Main Company: Kotak Mahindra Bank
Sector: Banking and Financial Services
Uday Kotak is the founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks. He is known for his conservative yet smart approach to finance, risk management, and long-term wealth creation.
• Started with a small finance business focused on bill discounting and lending
• Gradually expanded into a full-fledged non-banking finance company and later into Kotak Mahindra Bank
• Built a wide financial services franchise across retail banking, corporate banking, insurance, asset management and wealth management
Uday Kotak is involved in policy discussions, industry bodies, and philanthropy related to education and financial literacy.
He helped build India’s strength in stable, trustworthy private banking and proved how disciplined finance can compound into serious long-term wealth.
Net Worth (Present): $12.0 billion
Main Company: Wipro Limited
Sector: Information Technology and IT Services
Azim Premji is the former chairman of Wipro and one of the pioneers of India’s IT services industry. He is known globally not only as a successful businessman, but as one of the most generous philanthropists in the world.
• Transformed Wipro from a vegetable oil and consumer products business into a global IT services company
• Built Wipro into a respected player in software services, consulting, and outsourcing
• Expanded Wipro’s presence across major global markets over several decades
Azim Premji has donated a large portion of his wealth to education and social causes through the Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji University, working extensively in school education and social change.
He helped build India’s IT strength and then set a benchmark in philanthropy by giving away a major part of his fortune for social impact.
Net Worth (Present): $10.4 billion
Main Company: Lodha Group (Macrotech Developers)
Sector: Real Estate
Mangal Prabhat Lodha is the founder of Lodha Group, one of India’s leading real estate developers. He is known for creating premium residential towers and large-scale projects in major cities, especially Mumbai.
• Started developing real estate projects in Mumbai and gradually built a strong brand in luxury and mid-income housing
• Developed high-rise luxury apartments, integrated townships, and commercial spaces under the Lodha brand
• Benefited from rising property prices and demand for quality housing in urban India
Lodha and his family are involved in political, social, and community activities and support various social initiatives in urban development and public welfare.
He helped shape India’s urban real estate landscape, especially in Mumbai, by turning land into high-value residential and commercial properties.
Net Worth (Present): $9.5 billion
Main Company: Zydus Lifesciences
Sector: Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
Pankaj Patel is the chairman of Zydus Lifesciences, a major Indian pharmaceutical company. He is known for his focus on research, innovation, and building a strong presence in generics and healthcare products.
• Helped grow Zydus from a domestic pharma player into a major name in Indian and global generics
• Expanded into generics, vaccines, biologics, and specialty therapies across multiple markets
• Invested in R&D and healthcare solutions that support both domestic and international demand
Pankaj Patel and Zydus support initiatives in healthcare, education, and community welfare through CSR activities and foundations.
He helped build India’s strength in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, quietly creating large value in a sector that is always in demand.
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is the richest person in India.
Mukesh Ambani’s estimated net worth in Present time is around $116 billion.
Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, is the second richest Indian with an estimated net worth of $84 billion.
Savitri Jindal, chairperson of the Jindal Group, is the richest woman in India.
Different lists report different numbers, but India has well over 100 billionaires according to major rich lists.
Key sectors include IT services, pharmaceuticals, steel, real estate, banking, retail, infrastructure, and energy.
No. Some come from legacy business families, while others like Dilip Shanghvi, Radhakishan Damani, and Cyrus Poonawalla are first-generation entrepreneurs.
Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies, is among the richest tech billionaires in India.
Yes. Names like Azim Premji, Shiv Nadar, Mukesh Ambani and others are known for large contributions to education, health, and social causes.
Yes. Net worths change with stock prices, business performance, new investments, and global market movements, so rankings can shift from year to year.
A contributor to the Finanjo blog, where I share insightful and easy-to-understand content focused on educating readers about finance. With a clear and approachable writing style, I simplify complex topics to make them more understandable.
